Basement shows are quickly consuming my life.

I've decided not to write about the BlessTheFall/Escape The Fate show except for the fact that it's made me even lessen my view on the "hardcore" scene.

But I did go to another show this weekend, oh yeah. Sunday night Josh Penn decided to have a "Roach (who I call Nick Schmidt)'s Birthday/Columbus Day Extravaganza" featuring How To Steat And Cheal, Suburban Epidemic, and Model Citizen. Now I've seen all these bands many times before but they never get old. How To Steat And Cheal is a relatively new band, they played their first show in February and have already opened for bands such as Whole Wheat Bread. They've got a classic ska sound and the personality to back it up. Nothing beats a handful of teenagers playing old fashion ska, it makes me smile. Next would be Suburban Epidemic who should really be a ska/punk band, but considering their frontman Sean O'Rourke doesn't believe in ska/punk bands they just went with punk. Now this three piece has a good sound, with a good message, and hot bods to sell it. I've been to almost everyone of their shows and let me tell ya, it's always a party. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, the song titles of their songs are priceless: "Josh Penn Cybers 12 Year Olds", "Sex Is Only Dirty If You Do It Right", "Landon Wants To Be In A Ska/Punk Band", also "Rancid IS Better Than Common Rider". It just adds to the character of the band. Lastly, Model Citizen plays... punk? We'll call it that. They don't sound like anything else we have around here and that's hard to say. MC is also a three piece, but most the time I like to think of them as only guitar and drums considering their bassist is so drunk half the time he never plays right. It still makes for a great show. So throw those three bands and about forty sweaty kids in a basement and you've got my Sunday night. You'd also have to add in the "spank machine", Steak 'N Shake (which is nowhere near as good as Denny's), some birthday cake, and a banana suit. Yep, that just about sums it up. Amazing.

Amanda Gelso.


"You Spoke To Me" by The Smoking Popes seems to pop up on my ipod a lot.
It's a real great song, by an inspirational band.
My number one show of all time goes out to them.